Nation in Focus

May 9, 2013 12:59 AM

Photo: Rich Sugg, Associated Press

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Organizers of the U.S. Bank Great Midwest Balloon Festival kick off the Balloon Festival Charity Race Challenge by partially inflating the U.S. Bank's full-sized, hot air balloon Wednesday morning at Union Station in Kansas City, Mo. Sponsors, volunteers, organizers and representatives of local charities participating in the challenge will gather to kick-off discount ticket sales benefitting and exclusively available only through participating charitable organizations. The festival, which will feature 60 balloons, will be held August 9-10. (AP Photo/The Kansas City Star, Rich Sugg) less

Organizers of the U.S. Bank Great Midwest Balloon Festival kick off the Balloon Festival Charity Race Challenge by partially inflating the U.S. Bank's full-sized, hot air balloon Wednesday morning at Union ... more

Photo: Rich Sugg, Associated Press

Organizers of the U.S. Bank Great Midwest Balloon Festival kick off... Photo-4599157.61989 - San Antonio Express-News

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NEW YORK, NY - MAY 08: A woman exits a cab with an umbrella during a rain storm on May 8, 2013 in New York City. After experiencing an unusually dry spring in recent weeks, New York was hit with heavy rain Wednesday that resulted in numerous flash floods and heavy downpours. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) *** BESTPIX *** less

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 08: A woman exits a cab with an umbrella during a rain storm on May 8, 2013 in New York City. After experiencing an unusually dry spring in recent weeks, New York was hit with heavy rain ... more

Photo: Spencer Platt, Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 08: A woman exits a cab with an umbrella during... Photo-4599155.61989 - San Antonio Express-News

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Raindrops cover a tulip petal at the Orange County Arboretum at Thomas Bull Memorial Park in Hamptonburgh on Wednesday, May 8, 2013. About 40,000 tulips are on display in the gardens. (AP Photo/Times Herald-Record, Tom Bushey) less

Raindrops cover a tulip petal at the Orange County Arboretum at Thomas Bull Memorial Park in Hamptonburgh on Wednesday, May 8, 2013. About 40,000 tulips are on display in the gardens. (AP Photo/Times ... more

Photo: Tom Bushey, Associated Press

Raindrops cover a tulip petal at the Orange County Arboretum at... Photo-4599156.61989 - San Antonio Express-News

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New York State Police Sgt. Jamie Alvear commands the color guard during a ceremony at the State of New York Police Officers Memorial on Wednesday, May 8, 2013, in Albany, N.Y. Sixteen fallen officers from around New York state were honored, including four who died in 2012. (AP Photo/Mike Groll) less

New York State Police Sgt. Jamie Alvear commands the color guard during a ceremony at the State of New York Police Officers Memorial on Wednesday, May 8, 2013, in Albany, N.Y. Sixteen fallen officers from ... more

Photo: Mike Groll, Associated Press

New York State Police Sgt. Jamie Alvear commands the color guard... Photo-4599154.61989 - San Antonio Express-News

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Spectators react to a guilty verdict in the murder trial of Jodi Arias, Wednesday, May 8, 2013 in Phoenix. Arias was convicted of first-degree murder Wednesday in the 2009 killing of her one-time boyfriend Travis Alexander after a four-month trial. (AP Photo/Matt York) less

Spectators react to a guilty verdict in the murder trial of Jodi Arias, Wednesday, May 8, 2013 in Phoenix. Arias was convicted of first-degree murder Wednesday in the 2009 killing of her one-time boyfriend ... more

Photo: Matt York, Associated Press

Spectators react to a guilty verdict in the murder trial of Jodi... Photo-4599159.61989 - San Antonio Express-News

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NEW YORK, NY - MAY 08: Part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Spring 2013 Costume Institute exhibition entitled 'PUNK: Chaos to Couture' is viewed on May 8, 2013 in New York City. Featuring one hundred menswear and womenswear designs, the show examines punk's impact on high fashion from the movement's birth in the early 1970's to its continuing influence today. The show will be held until the 14 August. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) less

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 08: Part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Spring 2013 Costume Institute exhibition entitled 'PUNK: Chaos to Couture' is viewed on May 8, 2013 in New York City. Featuring one hundred ... more

Photo: Spencer Platt, Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 08: Part of the Metropolitan Museum of... Photo-4599161.61989 - San Antonio Express-News

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Capitol tour guide Laurie Maricle, left, leads a group of middle school children from Bellingham, Wash., as they look up toward the dome Wednesday, May 8, 2013, in Olympia, Wash. Lawmakers completed their regular session on April 28 and are scheduled to return for a special legislative session Monday in order to complete a new state budget. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) less

Capitol tour guide Laurie Maricle, left, leads a group of middle school children from Bellingham, Wash., as they look up toward the dome Wednesday, May 8, 2013, in Olympia, Wash. Lawmakers completed their ... more

The sixth annual BIG Truck Day was held Wednesday May 8, 2013, in Glazebrook Park in Godfrey, Ill. Children from Step By Step Day Care in Brighton, Ill., check out the gun turret opening in the top of the Madison County Sheriff's Department's tactical response truck which was part of the display. Many trucks were on display ranging from delivery vehicles to construction equipment and emergency vehicles. Children were bused into the park from local schools to tour the big trucks. (AP Photo/The Telegraph, John Badman) THE NEWS-DEMOCRAT AND THE POST-DISPATCH OUT less

The sixth annual BIG Truck Day was held Wednesday May 8, 2013, in Glazebrook Park in Godfrey, Ill. Children from Step By Step Day Care in Brighton, Ill., check out the gun turret opening in the top of the ... more

Photo: John Badman, Associated Press

The sixth annual BIG Truck Day was held Wednesday May 8, 2013, in... Photo-4599158.61989 - San Antonio Express-News

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Lt. Brian K. Cole, Sr., left, Michigan State Police Flint post's public information officer, laughs as he listens to First Lt. Gabriel Covey, based in Lansing, after the two spoke with young students in the cafeteria on Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at Bryant Elementary School as nearly two dozen Michigan state troopers gathered to kick off the state police's Teaching, Educating and Mentoring program at the city's schools. (AP Photo/The Flint Journal, Zack Wittman) LOCAL TV OUT; LOCAL INTERNET OUT less

Lt. Brian K. Cole, Sr., left, Michigan State Police Flint post's public information officer, laughs as he listens to First Lt. Gabriel Covey, based in Lansing, after the two spoke with young students in the ... more

BROOKFIELD, IL - MAY 08: Hani, a 10-year-old sloth bear, wanders her enclosure with her two cubs at the Brookfield Zoo on May 8, 2013 in Brookfield, Illinois. The cubs, which have been held in a maternity den since their birth on January 20, were making their public debut today at the zoo. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) less

BROOKFIELD, IL - MAY 08: Hani, a 10-year-old sloth bear, wanders her enclosure with her two cubs at the Brookfield Zoo on May 8, 2013 in Brookfield, Illinois. The cubs, which have been held in a maternity den ... more